Rocket launcher



G. KUNZ ROCKET LAUNCHER May 27, 1952 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed July 19. 1948 Emma-7??? BY jwm ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 G. KUNZ 2,598,001

ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed July 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIO EORGEVEWJNZ ATTORNEY G. KUNZ ROCKET LAUNCHER May 27, 1952 4 Sheets-sheaf. 3

Filed July 19. 1948 FIG.

as as }100 a;

ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 KUNZ 2,598,001

ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed July 19, 1948 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

99969/ I/II/I/II/I/I/II/I/l/I/IIIII/[III1/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIllkllllllllIIIII ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE ROCKET LAUNCHER Application .July 19, 1948, Serial No. 39,458 1 8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to rocket-launch ers and more particularly to rocket launchers adapted for installation in an aircraft for firing a series of rocket projectiles in rapid-succession.

It has been the known practice prior to this invention to utilize separate rocket mountings under the wings of an aircraft for each rocket to be fired. The disadvantage of this construction is that the rockets to be fired and their individual mountings are all exposed and thereby increase considerably the drag on the aircraft,

and such constitution amounts to inefficient use of the rocket launcher since it is utilized. for firing but a single rocket. In accordance-with the present invention a number of rockets are stored in a magazine communicating with the firing chamber and the feed of these rockets into the launcher is made automatic with the firing of the rockets. In this manner the rockets are fired rapidly and the magazine can be placed within the fuselage or airfoil or may be. otherwise aerodynamically streamlined. Accordingly only a portion of the firing guides or launching tube is exposed and constitutes the only member of the rocket launcher adding to aerodynamic drag.

One of the principal and basic features ofthis invention resides in the use of a cable for advancing the rockets in the magazine in-a direction normal to their longitudinal axis and into the firing chamber, the said cable being wound on a spring actuated drum. Also a principalfeature of this invention involves the utilizationof a pneumatic actuated piston with solenoid-controlled valves for actuating the transfer mechanism and for automatically actuating the holding pawls for the rocket projectiles thereby per-v mitting the rockets to be advanced by the cable in the direction normal to their longitudinalaxis intothe launching position.v By utilizing sole-v noid actuating valves for controlling the admis;

sion of air pressure tothe pneumatically actuated pistons for operatingthe transfer .mecha-. nism, the loading of the rockets from the magazine into the firing position can be-made automatic with the firing of the rockets. Mechanical and electrical interlocks are provided for. the

purpose of avoiding possible jamming of the rockets and for efiecting movement from the magazine to the launcher of but a single rocket and at the same time retaining the remaining rockets in the magazine in position for successive-firing.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention taprovide a new and improved rocket-launcher for automatically loading rockets from an adjacent communicating magazine into a firing chamber whereby to provide an automatic .rocket launcher.

It is a further object, of this invention to provide a rocket launcher wherein the rockets are advanced automatically in the magazine into firing positionby means of electrically controlled pneumatic pistons. It is a still further objectof this invention to provide a belt or cablelfeedfor rocketsin a magazine of a rocket launcher.

It is also a further object ofthis invention to provide a rocket launcher and magazine therefor that may be readily adapted to aircraft installation.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readilyappreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with thefaccompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic and sectional elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention showing fourrockets in the magazine and one rocket in the launcher in a position ready for firing;

Fig. 1a is a-slightly enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1,.i11ustrating the pawl operating struc--v ture somewhat. more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the rocket launcher illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the electric circuit connections for controlling the solenoidactuated valve;

Fi 3 is a diagram illustrating the mechanical andelectrical features of a modifiedform ofthe invention;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation of the structure involved in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is ,a partially plan and-sectional view of a portion of the structure in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview-of a portion of Fig.5.-

Referring now to the drawings andmore par ticularly to the modification illustrated in Figs. 1 and. 2 there is shown a frame [0 constituting a firing chamber for receiving arocket from a communicating magazine into position from which it is launched.- A launching tube II :and a guide I3 are rigidly attached to the framework It), the guide. 13 comprises apart of the magaa zine for the rockets I, II, III, and IV, as illustrated in the drawings and contains the guide sheaves I6 about which a cable .belt' [5 is passed, which cable partially encircles the last rocket (IV) in the magazine and is wound upon the drum I4. The drum I4 is preferably spring tensioned in the direction indicated by the arrows so that the cable 15 will be wound upon the drum as each of the rockets is individually advanced into the framework [0.

The U-shaped member 25 hereinafter referred to as a slide, since it is slidably supported in the frame I3, closes the end of the magazine opposite the drum [4 and functions to permit each rocket contained within the magazine to be transmitted in turn into the firing chamber l0. As illustrated in Fig. 2 this slide 25 is supported for movement in the frame 13 and is biased by means of the springs 24 into a position wherein the lateral surface 25a of the slide serves as a closure for the firing chamber. The slide 25 is moved in a direction to the right as viewed in the drawings by means of a pair of pneumatic motors 23 and 23' to bring the opening 26 formed in the side 25a into registry with the open side of the firing chamber [0. As illustrated, the pistons for the pneumatic motors 23 and 23 are connected to the extensions 21 and 21' formed on the opposite ends of the slide so that as the pistons are moved within the cylinders the slide will be moved to the right compressing the spring 24. The slide is provided also with a pair of slots I1 and H extending transversely thereof to receive the pivoted actuating leading-rocket pusher pawls 28. The pawls 28 are secured in spaced-apart relation on the rod 29 which is pivoted in the frame I3 of the rocket launcher. Each of the actuating pawls 28 has a slotted cam surface 301 out therethrough for receiving the pins 3! which are rigidly secured to the slide 25 at the slots I1 and I? so as to project therethrough. A pair of holding pawls 20 is supported by a common shaft 33 which is in turn supported by bearings 34 on a part of the frame l3. These pawls are actuated by the cam 32 as the slide is moved by the pneumatic motors. As the roller 35, carried by one of the pawls (Fig. 2), moves over the cam surface the pawls are pushed inwardly of the slide to engage the second rocket II within the magazine and to prevent this rocket from being moved by the cable belt into position for transfer into the guideway or firing track until rocket I has been so positioned.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, when a rocket is positioned for firing within the chamber the rocket engages a projection pin 12. The frame of the chamber I0 carries suitable electric contacts (not shown) for completing a firing circuit when the rocket is so positioned. On firing this rocket the pin I2 is freed from engagement with the rocket and moves inwardly of the frame by spring pressure (for example) to complete the energizing circuit for the solenoid-actuated valve 22. On energizing the solenoid the valve piston is moved into position communicating the exit ports of the valve with the compressed air flask 2 I. This admits high pressure air to the working side of the pistons of the pneumatic motors 23 and 23'. These pistons being fastened to the slide 25 suddenly push the slide-way from the rocket I (the inertia of the rocket being sufiicient to prevent it from moving with the slide) and bring the opening 26 on the under side of the shank of the slide into registry with the open side of the firing chamber [0. In the first phase of the motion of the slide 25 the pawls 20 are controlled by the cam 32 so that the pawls 20 are pushed inwardly of the slide to engage the next projectile II. In the second phase of the motion of the slide 25, the pins 3| bear against that portion of the cam slot 30 to force the pawls 28 inwardly to kick rocket I out of its position in the magazine through the slide opening 26 and into the firing chamber l0. As the rocket is pushed into the firing chamber, it engages the projecting pin i2 moving this pin against its spring pressure to open the energizing circuit for the solenoid valve 22. The deenergization of the solenoid permits the piston valve to be returned to the position blocking the port leading from the air flask 2| and exposing the ports leading from the pneumatic motor 23 to atmospheric exhaust. Thus the slide is free to be moved by the springs 24 back to its initial position to cover the open side of the guideway or firing chamber I0, and to cause the cam surface 32 to release the pawls 20 from their position of engagement with the second rocket. Accordingly, the second rocket will be advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow, a distance equal to its diameter by means of the drum l4 and cable [5 whereby rocket II is in position for transfer to the firing chamber as soon as the rocket within the firing chamber has been fired.

From what has been stated, it will be clear that the series of rockets occupies the magazine at one side of and in a plane above the firing chamber I0, the leading rocket being supported above the firing chamber by the electro-pneumatically controlled slide 25. When the latter is displaced from beneath the leading rocket, the tendency of the latter to gravitate into the firing chamber is assisted by the push imparted by the kick-out pawls 28. The leading rocket is thus displaced in one direction laterally of a series of rockets for entry into the firing chamber and, upon being fired, is displaced in another direction with respect to the rocket series.

Attention is next directed to the modification which, it will be observed, carries out the general principles previously described. The parts which are the same as those appearing in the first form of the invention are identified by corresponding reference characters supplemented with the exponent a. Again, the rockets are stored in a magazine from which they are discharged one by one by operation of a double-lever linkage consisting of a main lever 15 and an auxiliary lever 16. The main lever is pivoted at 11. It has a fork 18 located medially of its ends, and a rounded head 79 at that terminal opposite to where the two levers are pivotally connected at 80. The arcuate movements of the levers are provided for by a slot 8| at the'pivot 80. The remaining terminal of the auxiliary lever has a rounded head 82.

These rounded heads operate upon pawls 83, 84 which, when the double lever is actuated in the proper manner, exert forward pressure on the leading rocket, in addition to the continuous push exerted on the series of rockets by the springloaded drum, thereby separating the leading rocket from the series in the direction of progress of the series and advancing it directly into registration with the firing tube or track.

The structure of the pawl 84 is more simple than that of the pawl 83, the reason being that the pawl 83 has working in conjunction with it an automatic release device which initially holds a retainer arm 85 in a locking position against the front of the leading rocket of the series. Reference is again made presently to the pawl 84, but at this point attention is directed to the pawl 83.

A slide 86 has a recess 81, usually rectangular, in which the rounded head 19 has a working fit, free from excessive idle relative motion. The

llislidePhas: a lugi88rextending-coir toaonc side. "."This 1 lug'ahas a hole 89in. which the :short. arm SIJ Ofla-belI-cranb91 is movable, thesides-Of the rshortcarrm being-in working contact. with the. adjacentiwalls of-rthe' hole. The. slide is .smovableback and forth by. the .rockingrof the z=main leverii'lfi; andthis rocking :causes' a. sympathetic rockingof the bell-crank 9|.

The foregoing'movement. of :the slide :86 occurs 21in :anopeningsi92 which is outlined by parts of 1 a-acarriagersa and a bracket 94,:which fits) down won the-carriage :to confine theeseveral' moving parts-which .occupy its .confines. The, breadth of thezopening '92 exceeds the breadth .of{ the slide 86-.-by -..a small amount, enough: to .confine jthez bell-crank St .to, a predetermined amplitude of-rocking -motion. 'Thevend wallsxof :the :opening :92 therefore limit tthemovement of the slide.

The formations of the carriage and its covering bracket 94. .definein'part a passageway-1 95. A camxblockcllfihas a slidingfit in this passageway. "The cam*.block.has .a hole 91-.which. is gfiared at i: .98pto. accommodate the. long arm 99 ofthe bellcrank. 1 Asthelatteris made to rock; movements 1 of. thecamblock' 9B occurin response; it beingv noted that the: bell-crank translatesthe movements'of theuslide flli'inone direction to movements. of, :the .cam block in; a direction at right angles.

=1A1cam :lillkaupstanding from the inner :end or. .2 the: )block 96,v .initially' -underlies :the retainer .tarm;r8,5,:: actually assuming a position beneath .the..solid partdesignated, l! butadapted to; be cdisplacedflfrom zthatr position into line. with. a .'s1ot,".|;02i in the, arm 85. :Said arm is pivoted at 21103 120 a: fixedpart 1 I34 of "the framing,1the pivot- .ning occurring.- at .;"one;.of; its ends; leaving the mother; and hooked end free to swingupzand down into and away fromrengagement. with the lead- .lingitrocket. Thusgwhile the. point of :the cam.

zzlflfiliunderlies the solid: part IBI the armu;85 :is supported :in its. up position,: but whemthei cam sis; moicedwintoregistration :with the slot H12" as rwhenrtheblocl; 96 is slid --inwardly,: thearm loses; its, support and-thereupon: moves .to the rocket; disengaging position.

'5.Theuconstantlypresent pushprevailing on the 5;..trai1ing;rocket-causesthe; series to follow the .i-leadingi rocket whichlis sindividually: advanced ,inithe' following" manner. vThezpawl. 83,:pivoted ratiiflfi'sbetweerr ears of the ;bracket 9 4,..is .held erectwin position behind thehleading. rocketby a spring 101. As the lever keepsirswinging ,-.toward'. the right, the carriage 93. carries 5 the a pawl? .83 .with it, thus positively'.displa'cing, the ii;leading-.rocket.toward the firing .tube. ""The pawl .-:-84z:is;pivotal1y mounted and spring-erectedsim- --ilarlyi.-to: the pawl-83, .and' it responds tothe i swinging of, theauxiliary' lever 16' precisely as tdescribedrfor' the lever 15. The rocket series follows: by force of the cable and its spring- -loaded drum.

IDuring' that period -of -movement ofthe carriage, the cam lBO-ridesin the-slotl02-until (it reaches an incline |08-at the-forward end-of theslot. The terminal movement of the carriage is suificient to perform camaction whereby 'thearm is restored toitselevated position-to catch the next leading-rocket-of theadvanced "series. Upon the return swingof the main lever "15 the first step is to move the slide 85 (Fig. 5) tothe left. -This'causes a counter turn of' the bell-crank"9l and-retraction of theblo'ck "96. The cam -lflfl isthereby retracted into line with :returnaswingsithe point/30f; thGjICflIllfIldESiihB underside of :the arm 85. and thenrthersolid part SI 0 ll, keeping.thecarmelevated; until the; beginning of. the next; dischargingcycle.

*Reverting againirtoithe: pawlt-'84,:.this pawl. .is mounted on. a carriage Ii] 9 zsimilar'to .thecarriage .93. 'IE'ach of;;the-:'carriages *hasraeball-bearing mount llliiiinthe rails LI I. of afixedtrack. .As

the main lever .15 swings: in.:theamanner described, motion is imparted? therebyzto :the. auxiliary; lever r :18. 1 The motions. of .the two alevers: advance and 'I retractthepawls 83, 84-: simultaneously so: that the leading rocket isiiexpelledsand :the :nextone caught as has: been brought out.

It is to be noted that,.-.the :pawls:83,: B L-perform an important function inad'clitiomtopush- :ing the leading; rocket forwardly .of the series and-ainto linexwithathe firing tube; Ha. .They cserve-as guides for-the inner side of the-leading rocket; during the initial period of firing. "Guidancefor. the outermost, upperand lower sides 1 magazine. :be relied upon to provide the required, guidance 3 of the leading rocket .-is providedv by the. rails l26, I21 and I28 (Fig. 6)- forming, part. of,-the These rails are fixed and can always for the three sides of the rocket. But'itis also necessary to guide that side of the rocket which faces the magazine, and thisguidance is supplied by the pushingv pawls 83, 84. Therefore,

to' carry out the :intended purpose, the-pawls 83, 84 will stop in substantial registration with the left side of the firing tube Ila (Fig. 3) completing an equidistantly spaced, annular four- O stroke- .to vthe .mainlever.

spring. H3 causesythereturn. stroke of bothnthe point guide for the rocket in line with the firing tube.

, pistonand the double lever.

.-A valve 22a admits-airto the pcylinder2-3a -from afiasklla. Thewoperation of. the. parts involved from here on is as follows. Aswit'ch H5 isadapted to be manually closed in order-to start the working cycle. :The closure of anelectrical circuit from the source of current I H6 1 through the electro-pneumatic vvalve 22a and switches Ill and 8, opens the valve to Qadmit r air .to the cylinder 23a-with the, result already described.

When the leading rocket enters the firing tube it'displaces the spring-bolt [IS-by whichmeans the switch H8 is prepared forbreaking :the. circuit. ."Ihe firing'of the-rocket is accomplished electrically by means of .acontact ring at-the rear oft the projectile. The firing circuit may bevof any known :kind' and for that reason. is not: detailed herein.

-As-.soon as, they firing has takenplace and-the 'base of the rocket has passed thespring-bolt l [9,

this boltsprings back engaging the lug 121 which followed-the spring-bolt, and breakingngthe. circuitlto: the .electroepneumatic valye, 2.2a. ...At.-.the

same time:thetlug lzlcratchetsthe switcharm .122

aroundzto aposition displacedfrom the:position illustrated. In this position a new fcircuit is.=-readied. The deenergization :of the solenoid allows said valve 220- to release the compression of air inkthe'cylinderlliia, permitting the spring I [3 to returnthe parts to the former position.

The spring mounted pawls 83 and-'84 are-dethe solid part "I 0 l -As 'the "lever" continuesits 7 flect ed: by the 'next deadingrocket on the" return stroke, but spring back into position under that rocket to grip it. At the end position of its motion pawl 83 pushes a spring pin I into engagement with the lug I24, causing the switch arm I to be ratcheted to a position 90 displaced from the position illustrated. In this new position of the switch arm I25 continuity of the solenoid energizing circuit is again established to continue with another loading cycle.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A rocket launcher having a firing tube, a magazine in communication with the firing tube for storing a series of rockets in readiness for firing, means exerting a continuous push on the trailing rocket to tend to displace the rocket series out of the magazine into the firing tube, transfer means operatively associated with the leading rocket and having a piston connected thereto for its forward operation, back-stroke operating means also connected to the transfer means, electrically operative fluid pressure control means for delivering pressure fiuid to the cylinder to impart periodic forward power strokes to the piston and its transfer means thereby to cause it to release successive leading rockets, and a control in the firing tube for the electrical portion of the electrically operative fiuid pressure control means, being self-closed in the absence of a rocket from the firing tube to cause said power strokes and being openable by succeeding rockets when occupying the firing tube to leave the transfer means free for operation of said back stroke means.

2. A rocket launcher having guide means from which a rocket is projected into space upon being ignited, means for supplying the guide means with rockets at intervals, transfer means operative to align a rocket with the guide means, pressure fluid operated means for imparting periodic power strokes to the transfer means for moving the leading rocket of a series of rockets into igniting position in said guide means, resilient means exercising a constant returning pressure on said transfer means, and means operated by a rocket in its igniting position to suspend operation of the pressure fiuid operated means and provide a time interval for unimpeded operation of said resilient means.

3. A rocket launcher having a firing tube, a magazine in communication with the firing tube for storing a series of rockets in readiness for firing, means for exerting a continuous push on the trailing rocket to tend to displace the rocket series out of the magazine into the firing tube, a slide movable in two directions, initially restraining the rocket series, pressure fiuid operative means for imparting a power stroke to the slide to move it in one direction thereby to rea lease the leading rocket for transfer into regisfor storing a series of rockets in readiness for firing, means for exerting a continuous push on the trailing rocket to tend to displace the rocket series out of the magazine into the firing tube, a slide confronting the leading rocket, being movable in two directions and initially restraining the rocket series, pressure fiuid operative means for imparting a power stroke to the slide to move it in one direction thereby to release the leading rocket for transfer into the firing tube, detent means including pawls so situated as to engage the next leading rocket, means carried by the slide and made operative by its power stroke to displace the detent means into engagement with the next leading rocket to hold the series back, and means also carried by the slide and made operative by its power stroke to force the leading rocket out of the series and into the firing tube.

5. In rocket launching apparatus, a firing chamber having a magazine in communication therewith for storing a series of rockets, a holding pawl for holding the leading rocket from registration with the firing chamber, at least one pusher pawl for pushing the leading rocket into registration with th firing chamber, linkage connected with the pusher pawl for its operation, pneumatic means for actuating the linkage thus to operate the pusher pawl and displace the leading rocket into registration with the firing chamber, an electro-pneumatic valve operable for periodically actuating the pneumatic means for said operation of the linkage, means for retracting the holding pawl from its holding position against the leading rocket immediately prior to its displacement, and means actuated by the leading rocket upon assuming registration with the firing chamber for rendering the electropneumatic valve inoperable.

6. A rocket launcher having a firing chamber, a rocket magazine in communication with the firing chamber, extending ofi. from the firing chamber from a position thereabove so that the leading rocket tends to gravitate into the firing chamber, a slide intercepting the leading rocket, means to suddenly displace the slide so as to pull the support from under the rocket, leaving the rocket substantially in position by its inertia and ready for gravitation into the firing chamber, and pusher means operated by the slide simultaneously with its displacement to push down on said rocket and insure its entry into the firing chamber.

7. A rocket launcher having a firing chamber, a rocket magazine in communication with the firing chamber, a slide intercepting the leading rocket of a series of rockets in the magazine, power means to move the slide, an electropneumatic valve and a source of pressure fluid controlled thereby, an electrical circuit remotely closeable to energize the electro-pneumatic valve for the activation of the power means and the performance thereby of a power stroke on the slide to release the leading rocket, and switch means operated by said rocket upon entry into the firing chamber to open the circuit for the deenergization of the electro-pneumatic valve and deactivation of the power means in readiness for an idle return stroke of the slide.

8. A rocket launcher having a firing chamber, a rocket magazine in communication with the firing chamber, a pusher slide which includes a pawl operable behind the leading rocket of a series of rockets in the magazine, power means to move the slide, an electro-pneumatic valve and a source of pressure fluid controlled thereby, an electrical circuit remotely closeable to energize the electropneumatic valve for the activation of the power means and the performance thereby of a power stroke on the pusher slide to cause the pawl to push the leading rocket into the firing chamber, and twin switches in said electrical circuit, respectively operable by the leading rocket and by the slide, first to ready the switch for interrup-' tion and to condition another circuit upon entry of the rocket into the firing chamber, second to again close said other circuit upon the return stroke of the slide upon firing of the rocket whereby to again energize the valve.

GEORGES KUNZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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